Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong says his department solves more than 80 percent of homicides, higher than the national average, but is stumped in the year-old case of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, reports the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Wright, 34, was last seen on July 18, 2010, when he left the home of his ex-wife. Based on a 911 call from his phone, investigators believe he was shot to death the next day. His decomposing body was found last July 28.
His former wife this week sued the Collierville, Tn., police, for failing to investigate the case thoroughly. “Defendants’ training of its employees was clearly inadequate for the tasks that the employees were expected to perform,” the suit said, “including reasonable responsibility for the care and control of incoming 911 calls as well as a basic understanding of investigatory procedures pertaining to missing persons’ cases.” The suit seeks $3.8 million in damages. Armstrong said only 28 tips to Crime Stoppers have been received about Wright’s killing. Despite countless hours spent by homicide detectives — by all 14 investigators at some point — Armstrong said Memphis police are “still a long way from solving this crime.”